ELLEN MLAMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) Managing Director, Munesu Munodawafa has endorsed Government policy to restrict kombi operations within 60km radius.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Mirror at a local lodge in Masvingo this week, Munodawafa said the development will result in immense improvement in the safety of passengers and other road users.
He said the move to reduce distances travelled by small transport vehicles came after thorough research and consultations.
“There are many safety problems that are associated with kombis and they include poor compliance track record, poor safety standards, disorderly conduct, unreasonable hiking of fares, touting and general rowdiness.
“They load at dangerous places in disregard of road safety rules.
The bigger buses are safer, they have more leg room and safer luggage spaces than kombis where people and their packages are in one compartment when in fact they should be separated,” said Munodawafa.
In the case of accidents, commuter passengers are not insured.
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development this week issued a new policy in which public transport vehicles being 26 seaters or less will not be allowed to operate beyond a radius of 60km. The policy comes into force on Tuesday.
To operate the kombis will also be required to install speed limiting and monitoring devices in terms of Section 3 (1) of Statutory Instrument 118 of 2023, which prescribes that no person shall operate or drive on any road, a passenger public service vehicle registered in Zimbabwe, unless both of the devices are fitted to the vehicle,” reads part of the statement. He dismissed arguments that kombis were cheaper and said transporters have to value life more. There is however a public outcry over the move with people taking their grievances to social media platforms like Twitter.
Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe argued on her Twitter handle that highway accidents are being caused by buses and haulage trucks.She accused bus drivers of reckless driving and speeding.